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Girl from the Midwest, born 33 years ago in Kansas City, Krystle Warren is a self-taught artist, poet, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. This strong character – reminding us of Meshell Ndegeocello – this outstanding artist blends all the genres she likes thanks to her high-quality vocal technique. There are sparkles of Nina Simone, Tracy Chapman, Joan Armatrading and Erykah Badu in the damsel’s voice, whose hybrid and variegated work embodies the soul of African American music. Krystle Warren transcends the styles with her new album Three The Hard Way. Protest-songs with powerful groove, sharpened lyrics about politics and religion with an intense spiritual reach. Acting as a light in these dark times, the lady takes us by her intuitive musicality in a moving solo performance.

He is considered one of the best-kept secrets of the French music and above all avant-garde jazz. During his more than 5 decades of artist’s career, from the clandestine jams to playing clarinet with Boris Vian during the German occupation, Jean-François Quiévreux (who died in 2012) aka Jef Gilson held every position in the music industry. However, nearly no one remembers him. Even the hype experts such as the sax player Lionel Martin, key player Frédéric Escoffier and drummer Pipon Garcia had never heard of him. Until their producer Antoine Rajon offers them to pay homage to him forming Palm Unit (as a nod to the mythical label Palm created in 1972 by Gilson).With this relative virginity, the members of Palm Unit play an open-minded Gilson music, drawing in its rarities and other crazy B-sides in order to re-invent it although keeping its very timeless essence. So that this homage can be perfect, Malagasy faithful Gilson’s fellow Del Rabenja joins the trio with his valiha. Jef Gilson was ahead of his time; Palm Unit is proof that the time has finally come.

Among Foenix Big Band’s influences, they name Count Basie and Grandmaster Flash on a par with Benny Goodman, A Tribe Called Quest, Kenny Dorham, Busta Rhymes and Notorious BIG. Which is not so fanciful! The talent scout pianist Jean-Marie Bellec conducts them. From his pedagogical activities, particularly at the Nantes Conservatoire, he trained the new jazz generation in Nantes. They partner the Swiss vocal jazz genius Andreas Schaerer, for a unique creation.

Simon Mary has been a major figure of Nantes jazz for more than two decades. Active in all styles, including jazz (Médéric Collignon, Baptiste Trotignon, Kenny Wheeler, Steve Potts…) but also pop (Alexis HK, Philippe Katerine, Miossec, Leïla Hussoud…), he is an indisputable actor of the French music scene. As proof, his incredible discography: more than 60 albums and twice nominated to the Victoires de la Musique for one of his projects! He presents at the Rendez-Vous de l’Erdre his new project Acoustic Power: new compositions, a new group with musicians from different backgrounds. The writing borrows from jazz, world music – particularly from India and Eastern Europe – but also from the late 20th century classical music (Steve Reich, Philip Glass and Terry Riley would not feel far from home), the whole thing leaving a large share to improvisation.